Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- The digitalization process is irreversible and continues to change our society. It has a significant positive impact on the economic growth of countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative. 

Kabir Jurazoda, Director of the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation Institute (CAREC Institute), said in Urumqi, Xinjiang, China: “Focus on addressing the digital development challenges of the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) region, enhancing regional digital cooperation and sharing best practices lay the foundation for sustainable and inclusive economic development.”

On the same day, the 7th CAREC Think Tank Development Forum opened in Urumqi. The meeting was attended by more than 150 officials, experts, scientists and business representatives from China, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Mongolia and other countries and regions. Under the theme “Using digital technologies for sustainable economic development”, the participants shared successful cases, analyzed development problems and proposed feasible smart solutions for regional economic cooperation in Central Asia.

Chen Shixin, Vice President of the Asian Development Bank, briefly outlined the bank’s work to support the digital development of the CAREC region, including initiatives to use digital technologies in agriculture, education, medicine, and trade. He also drew attention to the widening digital divide and the security issue of digital development in the region.

“CAREC member states are actively promoting digitalization and seizing new opportunities in the digital economy. However, digital transformation still faces many challenges such as lack of capital, technology and talent.” At the opening ceremony, Zhang Wencai, vice president of the Export-Import Bank of China, made proposals to strengthen the construction of digital infrastructure, standardize the digital realm, build capacity and share knowledge in the digital realm, and ensure digital security. He called on CAREC member countries to work together to promote inclusive and sustainable regional economic development.

The forum lasted two days and included eight thematic sessions. During the session on the results of national case studies, Albina Muratbekova, Senior Researcher at the Eurasian Institute, spoke about how the digital transformation of special economic zones can contribute to the development of the economy of Central Asia. Burulcha Sulaymanova, a researcher at the OSCE Academy, recommends that the Central Asian countries formulate high-level digital projects, including specific goals and legal frameworks to attract investment in digital infrastructure, renewable energy sources, etc., thereby contributing to digital development.

Farukh Khakimov, an expert at the Center for Development Strategy of Uzbekistan, spoke about the experience of digitalization of trade in Central Asia and the benefits of regional cooperation. He noted that: “digital solutions in trade relations can help reduce trade barriers and promote the development of cross-border trade, thereby strengthening regional economic cooperation in Central Asia.”

Digitalization has increased productivity and efficiency, but the accompanying digital divide is having an impact on the labor market. Anna Pashalishvili, Project Manager, Accelerating Women’s Entrepreneurship, UN Women Europe and Central Asia, spoke about the barriers women face in the digitalization process and provided examples of how empowering social entrepreneurship and training in information and communication technologies can help women participate more actively in the digital economy.

During the forum, the potential for the development of digitalization in public administration, cross-border trade, finance and other areas was also discussed. During the second day of the forum, think tanks discussed the report of the CAREC Think Tank Network Secretariat and new initiatives.

CAREC is a regional cooperation mechanism initiated and supported by the Asian Development Bank, with 11 member countries: Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, PRC, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Mongolia, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.

The CAREC Institute is an intergovernmental organization dedicated to promoting economic cooperation in Central Asia and along the Silk Road through knowledge generation and sharing. Huang Jingjing, First Deputy Director of the CAREC Institute, said that the forum is a platform for discussions on various issues of regional importance and cooperation between governments, think tanks and the private sector to promote regional economic cooperation in Central Asia. This year, the participants discussed various issues of digital development in their countries and the region as a whole.